A new survey shows the major emotional strain placed on young men who are losing their hair.
It says that as many as a quarter of men suffering from male pattern baldness before the age of 35 turn to drink or drugs because they have difficulty coping.
The survey also found that 41% of men under 35 would rather lose their home or sight in one eye than all of their hair, while 36% of men referred to hair loss as one of their biggest worries.
Almost four in ten (38%) of those surveyed said hair loss made them feel depressed.
Many reported that the process has had a major impact on their social and romantic lives.
Almost a third said they felt a lack of confidence due to hair loss, with four in ten (39%) experiencing a loss of libido and a third going as far as avoiding socialising with friends due to the stigma attached to hair loss.
The results were from a new survey of 2,000 men commissioned by Asda Pharmacy.
Its findings come as no surprise to the team at Crown Clinic and its consultant hair transplant surgeon Asim Shahmalak.
We have been dealing with the consequences of hair loss for many years.
One of the most rewarding aspects of Dr Shahmalak’s job is seeing the boost in confidence and self-esteem men experience following a hair transplant at Crown Clinic.
Dr Shahmalak performs two types of hair transplant on his male patients –FUE (follicular unit extraction) and FUT (follicular unit transplanation).
Around 80% of patients at Crown Clinic now favour FUE – where individual grafts are taken from the back and sides of the scalp a replanted in the balding areas.
Some patients do still prefer the cheaper and less labour intensive FUT method, where a strip of skin is surgically removed from the back of the scalp to obtain the donor hair.
Famous FUE patients at Crown Clinic include the model Calum Best, football pundit Didi Hamann, TV presenter Martin Roberts and Chris Steed, star of Gogglebox.
Well-known FUT patients at Crown Clinic include the TV doctor Christian Jessen.